Air Force Academy defends use of student informants, challenges reliability of ex-cadet

Former Air Force Cadet Eric Thomas shows some of the documents from his file Tuesday, May 28, 2013, the day before the Class of 2013 graduates at the Air Force Academy. Thomas, who was a confidential imformant and critical to several convictions, was kicked out of the academy in March, months short of graduating. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

The Air Force Academy stood by its use of confidential student informants Tuesday, noting that it's a practice used across the Air Force that provides what it calls "vital information about criminal activities."

Related Links (2)

The academy's response was in reaction to a Sunday Gazette report about the system of cadet informants who are instructed to deceive classmates, professors and commanders. The academy on Tuesday also questioned the reliability of cadet informant Eric Thomas, who helped bring the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations to light after he was expelled from the academy, despite being promised protection by his handlers.

"The program uses people who confidentially provide vital information about criminal activities that would not otherwise be available," the academy said in a statement. "AFOSI uses that information to initiate or resolve criminal investigations. This is an Air Force-wide program and is not something unique at the Air Force's Academy."

The Gazette report detailed how the Air Force uses the informant program to go after drug use, sexual assault and other misconduct among cadets. Informants are recruited through long interrogations, then sent to gather evidence, snapping photos, wearing recording devices and filing secret reports.

Thomas, who was the focus of the article, was expelled after getting in trouble for misconduct he said was directed by OSI.

In its own statement, OSI said "The AFOSI confidential informant program is an important and time-proven investigative tool."

Click here to view a replay of Tuesday's Dave Philipps web chat about "Honor and Deception"

NOTE:Gazette reporter Dave Philipps and former Air Force cadet Eric Thomas were scheduled to appear live on CNN at 9 a.m. Wednesday, but the interview was postponed because of the network's live weather coverage.

The Air Force Academy stood by its use of confidential student informants Tuesday, noting that it's a practice used across the Air Force that provides what it calls "vital information about criminal activities."

The academy's response was in reaction to a Sunday Gazette report about the system of cadet informants who are instructed to deceive classmates, professors and commanders. The academy on Tuesday also questioned the reliability of cadet informant Eric Thomas, who helped bring the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations to light after he was expelled from the academy, despite being promised protection by his handlers.

"The program uses people who confidentially provide vital information about criminal activities that would not otherwise be available," the academy said in a statement. "AFOSI uses that information to initiate or resolve criminal investigations. This is an Air Force-wide program and is not something unique at the Air Force's Academy."

The Gazette report detailed how the Air Force uses the informant program to go after drug use, sexual assault and other misconduct among cadets. Informants are recruited through long interrogations, then sent to gather evidence, snapping photos, wearing recording devices and filing secret reports.

Thomas, who was the focus of the article, was expelled after getting in trouble for misconduct he said was directed by OSI.

In its own statement, OSI said "The AFOSI confidential informant program is an important and time-proven investigative tool."